BADBADNOTGOOD in Montreal

On Tuesday, April 3rd many people gathered at the M-Telus venue (still the worst name ever) to see the Toronto Jazz quartet, BADBADNOTGOOD. The band has performed a number of times in Montreal before, and having seen them on some of those occasions myself, it really makes me happy to see them draw a bigger crowd every time. Unfortunately, their last performance at The Osheaga Music and Arts was long delayed and drastically cut short due to intense weather conditions, so being able to see a full length performance of their newest material was a real privilege to witness.

However, unfortunately, the show was not all fun and games.
The show opened up with a performance from a band called Standing on the Corner, and I really wish that I could have something positive to say about them. Although, I did not react well to them at all. I am a big fan of experimental music, but I was standing there for a good half hour trying to comprehend what exactly I had just seen. I have no idea whether there were issues behind the scenes or not, but I even had trouble hearing everything that was being played. Overall, it was a rather unpleasant experience however it did increase anticipation for the main event.

After the first act left, more people began to flock in to see

the show, (as it turned out later on, the show was actually sold out and filled to capacity) and I must say, BADBADNOTGOOD really put on an excellent show.
The band played a consistently energetic show. Even when they played their slower tracks, they were able to build an incredible atmosphere, but the real energy was from the crowd itself. When I saw them at Osheaga, a small mosh pit broke out towards the end of their set, which was something I wanted to see again at this show, and I got more than that. When they began to play their more energetic songs, the entire floor became one big massive pit and it was incredible.
The thing that got to me the most was that people were moshing to a Jazz concert, which was something I never would have thought I would ever see. Not to mention, it’s really great to see so many people get so wound up over a jazz show. It really shows that there is still a huge love for the genre. Those four guys really know how to show their love for the genre, while also knowing how to keep it fresh and modern. This band have gone on to work with some huge hip-hop and electronic artists such as KAYTRANADA, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Ghostface Killah, etc.

If you are in the mood for a really unique modern Jazz Sound, I highly suggest BADBADNOTGOOD. Furthermore, if you ever get the chance to see them live, I highly suggest it. Their live energy and technical prowess really make for an excellent show. I know where I’ll be when they return.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Andrew WoodEntertainment Editor

Originally Published in Bandersnatch Vol. 47 Issue 12 on April 11, 2018